Method of wrapping generally cylindrically shaped articles



March 25, 1952 O. SANDBERG I vMETHOD OF WRAPPING GENERALLY CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED ARTICLES 6 Sheets-Sheet l mg@ LA Filed Nov. 29, 1946v INVENTOR.

gy 05ml' S'afzdb @iw-v 269 March 25, 1952 Q SAND'BERG 2,590,128 METHOD OF WRAPPING GENERALLY CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED ARTICLES v 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 1,3 Q Imm".

March 25, 1952 Q SANDBERG 2,590,128

METHOD OF' WRAPPING GENERALLY CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED ARTICLES Filed Nov. 29, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. dafe'afzdb e219:

March 25, 1952 Q SANDBERG 2,590,128

` METHOD OF WRAPPING GENERALLY CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED ARTICLES Filed Nov. 29, 1946 -6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENToR. 0s dar ,anfdbfgi March 25, 1952 o. sANDBl-:RG

METHOD OF WRAPPING GENERALLY CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED ARTICLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 NNN March 25, 1952 o. sANDBERG METHOD OF WRAPPING GENERALLY CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED ARTICLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Patented Mar. 25, 1952 METHOD F WRAPPING GENERALLY CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED ARTICLES Oscar Sandberg, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Lynch Corporation, Anderson, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application November 29, 1946, Serial No. 112,971

1 Claim. (o1. 5.3-14) This invention relates to a method of Wrapping articles and particularly the method of wrapping generally cylindrically shaped articles such as cookies, peanut butter sandwiches, candy rolls, and the like. A machine adapted to practice the improved method was disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 686,842, led July 29, 194.6, for` package and sealing mechanism Iand in my co-pending application Serial No. 654,079, led March 11,3, 1946, now Patent Number V2,557,405, dated September ll, 1951, for wrapping machine for sandwiches and the like.

`It is an object of th-e invention to provide an effective method for wrapping articles to provide a plurality of aps at the ends of the package, and then colsely fold the projecting corner of the flaps thereagainst.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for tigtly and neatly sealing cylindrically shaped articles and to effectively seal such articles.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method of wrapping articles of the types described wherein the articles are rolled after the wrapper is initially disposed about the article and endaps provided to thereby provide a neat and tightly sealed package.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompany drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a, portion of a machine for wrapping cylindrical articles utilized in practicing my method;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the central portion of themachine shown in Figure 1; .l Figure 3 is a partial elevational View of 'the 'fother end of the machine shown in Figure l.

ybe wrapped, and draping the wrapping material therearound Figure 6 is a partial vertical sectional view of the articles and the associated mechanism and illustras the next step in the wrapping process after the steps shown in Figure 5 have been completed;

Figure 7 is a partial vertical sectional view of the mechanism illustrating the next step in the wrappingl process after that shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a top view of the articles to be Wrapped, illutsrating the first end fold;

Figure 9 is a partial vertical sectional view of the apparatus showing the step after that shown in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a partial vertical sectional view showing the step after that shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a partial vertical sectional view showing the step after that shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a partial vertical sectional view showing the step after that shown in Figure 11, and illustrating the second fold for the article, together with the ram for removing the article from the retaining wheel and the mechanism for opening the gates in the retaining wheel. Figure 12 also illustrates the mechanism for making the third and fourth folds of the wrapping material;

Figure 13 is a side view of the article, showing the rst and second folds completed;

Figure 14 is a top view oi the article showing the rst and second folds completed;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view showing the article with the four naps of the wrapping material folded sliding through the rst set of heating elements;

Figure 16 is an end view of the article with the four flaps of the wrapping material formed thereon in the condition they assume after passing through the first set of heaters;

Figure 17 is a vertical sectional view of a conveyor belt for rolling the package shown in Figure 16 along a second set of heaters;

Figure 18 is a partial perspective view of the article showing the position of the wrapping material prior to the time it enters the rolling portion of the machine, and

Figure 19 is a partial perspective view of the article showing the wrapping material in its final position.

Referring specifically to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, it will rst be noted that wherever possible, supporting members, tables, and the like have not been shown, since they form no part of the method claimed. Pocket conveyor shafts I4, l5 and i6 carry sprockets l1. I8 and I9, respectively. Pocket conveyor chain 20 surrounds the sprockets and passes over a large idler wheel 21 shown in Figure l. The conveyor chain has spaced channel shaped, article-receiving pockets 25 mounted thereon. The pockets 25 are adapted to receive sandwiches or cookies 26 (several, face to face, in each pocket) and to maintain the sandwiches 26 in the pockets, a pair of rods 21 '1s provided along each side of the conveyor.

The pocket conveyor 26--25 is driven by 10- tating the shaft I4 through a chain drive 23 from an intermittently operated shaft 29. Shaft 29 is driven through a Geneva movement including a notched disc 30 and a crank pin 32 to coact with the notches 30. Crank pin 32 extends from a crank arm 33 which is secured toa shift 34. The shaft 34 is driven by a chain drive 35 from a main shaft 36 adjacent the lower part of Figure 2, through beveled gears 31 and 38. The main shaft 36 is driven in any suitable manner from an electric motor not shown.

Each pocket 25 of the pocket conveyor is provided with a central opening 39 as shown in Figure 4, and is adapted to permit a ram head 45 to pass up through the pocket. ,The ram head 49 is on the upper end of a vertical post 4I, secured to a slide 42 provided with four bearings 43 as best shown in Figure 4. The bearings 43 slide on vertical guide rods 44. For vertically sliding the slide 42 to operate the arm 40, I provide a link 48 pivoted to the slide and to an arm 49. The arm 49 is secured to a rock shaft 50, the rock shaft 58 being also secured to an arm I which is connected by a link 52 to a crank arm 53 on the main shaft 36. The main shaft 36 is rotated once in each cycle of the operation of the wrapping machine so that the arm 40 is thereby reciprocated upwardly and returned downwardly once each cycle and the Geneva moving disc is advanced one sixth of a revolution each cycle. The advance of the Geneva disc advances the pockets 25 one station each cycle, and holds them at their stations, one of which is at the opening 39 of the pocket 25, directly above the ram head 49 so that the ram head may pass up through the pocket.

Above the pocket 25, a folder and retainer head is provided. This is best shown in Figures 2, 4, 7 and 10. It consists of a pair of stub shafts 55, on which a casting is mounted. The casting includes two end plates 56 and 51, with a square connecting post 58 therebetween. At the center of the post 58, two cross passages 59 are provided at right angles to each other, which result in the post 58 having four connecting portions 54.

Each end plate 56 and 51 has journalled therein a rod 60 having a right angle end 6|. These rods 6i] are constrained to rotate in a clockwise direction in Figure 2 by means of set screws 62 and collar 63 on the rods, the outer ends of the -set screws being connected to stationary set screws 64 by springs 65.

It will be noted that four of the rods 60 are provided and that the folding head is arranged with four sandwich-receiving pockets, each formed by fiat plate 66 and arcuate plates 61 and 68. The plates 61 are stationary and have eyes 69 loosely journalling the rods 60 so that the rods 69 may rotate. Each one of the plates 68`has one eye 10 secured to its respective rod 60 by set screws 1l.. The springs 65 normally hold the arcuate plates in the position shown in vFigures 6 and '7. The flat plates 66 are secured to the post sections 54 so that they are stationary with respect to the rotaryfolder head.

The folder head includes a compression plate 21| and a compression plate 212 for each of the four pockets of the head. The plate 21| is carried by a rod 213, which is stationary with respect to the folder head as it is carried in the end plate 56. The plate 212 is carried by a rod 214, which is slidable in the end plate 51 and is constrained to move in an inward direction by a spring 215, the inward limit of movement being determined by a stop collar 216 on the outer end of rod 214 striking the plate 51. The inner end of lthe spring 215 bears against a collar 211 on the rod 214.

The rotary folder head is periodically rotated one-fourth of a revolution by means of gears 15 and 16 and a chain drive 11 from the shaft of the gear 16 to the shaft 29, a ratio being six to four as the shaft 29 is rotated one-sixth of a revolution each cycle and the folder head is rotated one-fourth of a revolution each cycle.

With further reference to details of the folder head, means is provided to automatically open the lowermost of the four pockets as the ram head 49 raises. This means consists of a bell crank pivot at 11a on a stationary frame element 18, as shown in Figure 2. The bell crank consists of a depending arm 82 and a substantially horizontal arm 83, the depending arm 82 carrying a laterally projecting stud 84 and the horizontal arm being connected by a link 85 to a lever 86. The lever 86 is pivoted intermediate its ends at S1 to the frame bar 18 and has a vertical link 88 pivotally connected with its rear end.

The link 88 extends downwardly and is pivotally connected to one end of rock arm 89. The rock arm 89 is pivoted at 90 and carries a roller 92 on its other end. The roller 92 is adapted to travel in a cam groove 93 of a cam 94, which cam is mounted on a shaft 95. The parts just described are illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 in relation to the main shaft 36. The shaft 95 is driven from the main shaft 35 by a chain drive 96 and shaft 95 rotates once each cycle of operation of the wrapping machine.

The laterally projecting stud 84 of the bell crank B2, 83 is adapted to engage the laterally extending arm Si of the lowermost rod 6! of the folder head when the bell crank is rocked clockwise. This rotates the rod 66 counterclockwise as viewed in Figure '1, thereby opening the lowermost pocket in the rotary folder head to permit entry of the sandwiches and their wrapper. After the sandwiches and the wrapper have entered the pocket, the bell crank 82, 83 is rocked counterclockwise for releasing the extension 6| of the rod 68 so that the spring 65 will return the arcuate plate 68 to closed position, as shown by dotted lines, for retaining the partially wrapped package therein, assisted by the plates 66 and 61.

A wrapper for wrapping the package is shown at 91 and is preferably formed of Pliolm or the like, which is adapted to be sealed by the application of heat thereto, although waxpaper, cellophane or the like may be used. The wrapper is preferably supplied to the wrapping machine from a roll 91a, the wrapping machine being provided with means to cut the strip from the roll 91a into individual wrappers 91. I have diagrammatically illustrated a feed mechanism for the wrapping material from the roll 91a in Figure 4 of the drawings. A wrapper supply mechanism may be utilized such as shown in my Patent No. 2,283,096 issued May 12, 1942, if desired. The wrapper 91 is fed onto a table I3 in flat form beneath a pair of Wrapper control rods 98 and 99. The feeding mechanism comprises bevel gears and |0I, the bevel gear |0| vbeing driven by pocket conveyer shaft I4 and the gear |00 is, therefore, driven in synchronism with the pocket conveyer 20, 25. A sprocket is provided 'on the gear |00 and drives a chain |02, which in turn drives a sprocket on which a gear |03 and feed roll |04 are mounted. Feed roll |04 drives an upper feed roller |05, which in turn drives a wheel having a cutting knife |a thereon. Gear |03 drives through a gear chain |03a to rotate a conveyer belt |04a, which conveys wrapping material to the plate I3, as best shown in Figure 4.

A bottom flap folder is provided for folding the bottom flap of the package as shown in Figures 2 and 9, and this folder consists of a paper pusher plate |06 carried by a slide bar |01 and hinged thereto on a pivot |08. This arrangement permits upward fioating movement of the paper pusher plate |06 and limits its downward movement due to gravity.

The slide bar |01 is slidably mounted in slideways |09 and is reciprocated therein by means of a lever ||0. The lever |I0 is pivoted inter-l mediate its ends (not shown) and has one of its ends connected to the slide bar |01 by means of a link ||3. The other end of the arm ||0 is connected by a link ||4 to an upwardly extending arm II5 of a bell crank having a horizontal arm H6. vThe arm ||6 is connected by a link |I1 to a rock arm I|8 pivoted at IIS. The arm ||8 carries a roller |20 adapted to travel in a cam groove I2| of a cam |22. The cam |22 is mounted on a shaft 31a whereby the slide bar |01 is reciprocated forwardly and returned rearwardly once during each operating cycle of the wrapping machine.

The bottom folder further includes a pair of rods |23 slidably supported by the vertical flange of the paper pusher plate |06 and by a crossbar |24 secured to the slide bar |01, the crossbar |24 having perforated ends to slidably receive the rods |23. On the rear ends of the rods |23, collars |25 are mounted and these are constrained to engage the crossbar |24 as a stop by ymeans of a spring (not shown) for each rod. The front ends of the rods are connected together by a member having a pair of forwardly projecting package engaging elements |28, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear when describing the operation of the machine. scription of the paper pusher is contained in my aforesaid co-pending application, Serial No. 654,079, now Patent No. 2,561,405, granted Sep,- temberll, 1951.

A heating plate |29 is pivotally mounted on a lrod |30 carried by supports |00a as shown, for

example, in Figure '1. Heating elements |3, preferably of the electrically energized type, are secured to the heating plate |29. The heating plate is constrained to move toward the rotary folder head by means of a spring |32.

A second heating plate |35 is shown, for example, in Figures 11 and 12, and is freely hinged at I 36 and normally remains in a substantially -vertical position due to gravity. This heating plate |35 has a heating element |31 thereon. The hinge connection |36 is supported by arm |33,

jwhich is pivotally mounted at |39.

A pair of fore-and-aft extending rods |42 slidably support a pair of slides |43 thereon. These slides are similar to the slide |42. The slides |43 arereciprocated once each cycle of operation of the Wrapping machine by means of a link I45pivoted thereto at |46 and extending forward A complete der to pivotally connect with the upper end of an arm |41. The arm |41 is secured at its lower end to a rock shaft I 48. A horizontal arm |50 is secured to the rock shaft |48 and its other end is connected by a link |5| to a crank pin |52 of a crank arm |53. Crank arm |53 is secured to the shaft 34.

A pair of slides |44 is operated from the slides |43 by a suitable linkage (not shown). YThe slides |44 carry a roller 244 adapted to engagea cam surface 245 of a bell crank shaped camY arm 246. A stud 241 is carried by the lower end of arm 246 and is adapted to engage the end 0| of rod 60 corresponding to that pocket of the rotary folding head which at that time is in a forward position and ready for its arcuate plate 66 to be opened for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

From the construction of the parts just described, it will -be clear that a relatively long sliding motion of theslides |43 on rods |42 will result in slight swinging movement of the bell crank |51, |58, thereby resulting in a slight sliding movement of the slides |44 on the rods |42. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide a desired movement of the slides |44 for operating a second end ap folder. Depending from the slide bars |44 is a pair of brackets |65 which carry stationary shoes |61, which float by means of a rod |68 slidably extending through lthe bracket and provided with stop nuts |69.

For removing a partially wrapped package of sandwiches from a pocket of the rotary folder head, when such pocket is rotated from a lower position as shown in Figure 9, to a forward position as shown in Figure 1l, I provide a package pusher rod |1| having an arcuate pusher plate |12 on its forward end. The plate |12 is adapted to pass through the central `opening 59 of the folder head and then through an opening |13 of the arcuate plate 61, as shown in Figure` 12, by way of example. In so doing, it pushes the package indicated in this gure as |14 between shoes |61 so that the shoes provide a second "fl'apfolding operation on the package, as shown in Figures 12, 16, 18 and 19. At the same time, the shoes |61 are being moved toward the right in Figure 12 while the package is being moved toward the left to effect the second end flap fold in a short period of time, which is required for this part of the mechanism to remain in synchronism with the rest of the machine.

The package pusher rod |1| is carried 'by brackets |15 depending from the slides |43. The package pusher plate |12 is thereby operated once on each cycle of the machine.

Ahead of the second end flap folder shoes |61 is a folding way |16. This way is of the usual construction, such as shown in my patents and applications above mentioned, and is adapted for successively folding the third and fourthend flaps of the package as shown at 3 and 4V in Figures 16, 18 and 19.

The folding way effects the folding operation as a result of moving the package with respect to the folding way, and such movement is accomplished by means of a package carrier conveyer including a conveyor chain |11, shown in Figure 2 and 3. The chain |11 traverses a drive sprocket |18 and an idler sprocket |16, as shown in Figure 3. The chain |11 has crossbars |80 to engage the packages |14, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The crossbars |80 engage the packages as they are moved out `of the folder head by fthe packagepusher plate |12 andv drag them under the heating plate |35, then through the space between the second end flap folder shoes |61, the third and fourth end ap |16, and finally between a pair of heating plates |8|, best shown in Figure 15. These plates provide heating for the third and fourth end aps of the package IHl` The drive sprocket |19 and conveyor chain |11 is secured to a shaft |32 and this shaft is driven by a chain drive |83 through gears |95 which are driven by sprocket |86. Chain |33 is driven by a sprocket secured to shaft 34.

The chain |83 also drives a sprocket |81 on a shaft |88. The shaft |88 carries two pairs of transfer ngers |39, adapted to engage the packages as they come from the conveyer chain 20 and moves them across a stationary plate |91 and on to a conveyer belt |92.

The conveyer belt |92 is trained around drums |93 and |94, mounted on shafts |95 and |96, respectively, and delivers completed packages to atake-away platform |91. The shaft |93 is driven by a sprocket |98 and a chain |99, the chain also extending around a sprocket 20|, mounted on shaft |32 and driven therefrom, as shown in Figure 3.

A pair of angle-shaped corner folding and sealing members 202 and 203 are supported by any suitable means above the conveyer |92. The angles 202 and 203 are provided with heaters 204 and 205, respectively.

Operation In the operation of my disclosed wrapping machine, when the machine is started the operator may stand beside the portion of the pocket conveyor 20, shown in Figure 1 and place the proper number of sandwiches 26 in each pocket, or a suitable hopper may be provided with means to properly feed the sandwiches to the conveyer. The pocket conveyer 20, 25 advances intermittently, each advance being the distance from pocket to pocket. When a pocket is in position above the ram head 40, the pocket conveyer is stationary, whereupon the ram head raises for elevating the sandwiches out of the pocket 25 through an opening 206 in table I3 and against the wrapper 91, causing the wrapper to be bulged up at the center, as shown in Figure 5.

Further elevation of the ram head results in the sandwiches 26 being elevated to the position shown in Figure 6, just after the plate has been opened to the position shown in Figure 7, due to engagement of the stud 84 with the lateral end 6| of rod 60. This wraps the Wrapper 91 a little over half way around the sandwiches and the closing of the arcuate plate 68 holds it in this partially wrapped condition.

Next, one of the bottom flaps of the package is folded as shown in Figure 9, this being accomplished by forward movement of the package engaging elements |29 during the first part of the forward movement of the slide bar |01. Thereafter, further forward movement of the slide bar causes the paper pusher plate |06 to continue its movement with the package engaging elements |28 held against the package, as shown in Figure 9. The plate |06 goes forward to a position adjacent the front paper engaging rod 98.

As the package nieves up into the lowermost pocket of the folder head, it is compressed slightly endwise and a first fold made as illustrated, for example, in Figure 8, this fold being indicated at The rst end fold and the slight compression mentioned are effected by the compression plates 21| and 212 under the action of the springs 215.

The next step in the wrapping operation is to turn the folder head a quarter turn clockwise, about one-half of this movement being shown in Figure 1G. Here, it will be noted that the second bottom flap fold has been accomplished, due to a wiping action of the package along the heating plate |29. At the same time, the heat from the plate seals the second bottom ap to the rst one, so that the package is now sealed with the exception of its ends. The remainder of the quarter rotation of the folder head brings it to the position shown in Figure 11, where the bottom aps are now in front and are being further heat-sealed by the heating plate |35.

The next step in the operation is to release the package from the folder head and this is accomplished as shown in Figure 12, by the forward motion of the ram |1| and plate |12. During the release of the package, the arcuate plate 68 is opened as it was when the folder head pocket was in its downward position, but this time opening action is accomplished by the stud 241 of cam arm 246 engaging extension 6| of rod 60.

As the pusher plate |12 releases the package from the holder head, it is picked up by the crossbars of the chain |11 and carried under the heating plate |35 through the second end folder shoes |31, then through the folding way |16 for forming the third and fourth end folds and then through the heating plates |8| for heat sealing the ends of the package.

The flaps 2, 3, and 4 have now been formed, but it will be noted that due to the round shape of the package the base corners or folds of the flaps result in substantially pointed projections of the wrapper indicated at 291 in Figure 18.

Aside from being unsightly, these projections occur at folded portions of the wrapper which may not be completely sealed up to this time. The machine does, however, completely seal the central portions of the flaps. In order to neatly fold down the projections 201 and insure complete sealing of theentire package and produce a package which is neat in appearance, the projections 201 are now folded down over the ends of the package and sealed. This is accomplished by transferring each package from the conveyer 20, 25 to the belt |92 by means of the transfer fingers |39. These fingers serve to force the packages into position between the angles 202 and 203.

The action that then takes place is a rolling action because the upper stretch of the conveyor belt |92 is travelling to the left as viewed in Figure 3, whereas the horizontal flanges of the angles 202 and 203 are stationary. The packages are accordingly being rolled under the angles at half the speed of the belt |92. The projections 201 on the package are, therefore, folded as shown in Figure 19 to provide flaps 5, 6, 1, and 8 and the electric heaters 20d and 205 definitely seal the flaps. The flap of the package, where it wraps around the cookies and terminates, is at the line 208 in Figures 18 and 19 and is further heat-sealed by the horizontal flanges of the angles 202 and 293. The angles thereby serve to iron out the wrinkles from the wrapper as well as seal it, and particularly at the projections 201, so that the resulting package is neat in appearance and is completely sealed.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved method of Wrapping and sealing the packages, particularly packages which are cylindrical in shape.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my method of wrapping articles without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim any inodied forms of structure which may be reasonably included Within their scope Without sacriiicing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim as my invention:

The method of Wrapping a generally cylin drical article having ilat end faces Which cornprises providing about said article a tubular Wrapper of heat scalable sheet material having ends projecting beyond the at article faces, folding the projecting Wrapper ends inwardly against each of said article end faces to form aps, sealing said naps by application of heat, the resultant wrapping having projections at the base corners oi said. iaps and having wrinkles at the ends of the tubular wrapping portion, and While at both wrapping ends folding in and heat sealing each of said projections successively, also at the 410 Vsaine time subjecting the ends of said tubular wrapping simultaneously to heat and to a generally tangentially directed compressive force, said subjection to heat and force being eiected progressively around the peripheries of said tubular wrapping ends whereby said Wrinkles are ironed out.

OSCAR SANDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file cf this patent:

UNITED STATES .PATENTS Number Name Date 1,337,693 Dewey Apr. 20, 1920 1,722,716 Templin' July 30, 1929 1,740,582 i Farmer Dec. 24, 1929 1,784,349 Grover Dec. 9, 1930 2,066,414 Milmoe Jan. 5, 1937 2,082,945 Ferenci June 8, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 171,276 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1921 

